5 Winners and Losers of the Week in Business
From clever moves by Microsoft and Amazon to an ill-conceived layoff at Zynga, here are the week's smartest moves and worst misses in the business world.
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5 Winners and Losers of the Week in Business
From a soda company's refashioned refrigerators to an apparel CEO's tactless comments, here's a rundown of this week's best moves and worst blunders in the business world.
Amazon May Lose Hundreds of Millions, but Things Are Improving
Amazon just announced another quarter of tiny profits, and says it may lose up to $340 million this quarter. But things are still looking up for the giant online retailer.
5 Hidden Surprises in Netflix's Great Quarterly Report
Shares of Netflix opened sharply higher on Tuesday after it posted blowout results. But there's more to the leading video service's good news than just the top line numbers.
Netflix's 1Q Subscriber Gains Catapult Stock
Netflix's decision to feature original programming on its Internet video service appears to be pulling in more customers.
Time Warner Enters Streaming Movie Business
Time Warner is jumping into the business of streaming online video, using its vast library of classic movie and TV shows to challenge Netflix, Amazon et al.
Question of the Week: What's Your Favorite Way to Watch Movies?
Netflix is on top of the video world now, at least as far as the stock market is concerned. But is it your pick for flicks? How do you stream, rent, or otherwise watch video?
Would You Pay $5 a Month for Exclusive YouTube Channels?
Google is tapping some of YouTube's more prolific content producers to create premium channels that would charge viewers between $1 and $5 apiece every month for exclusive content. But is a subscription model a smart move -- or even necessary -- for YouTube?
Netflix Earnings Caught Wall Street Off Guard with Good News
Shares of Netflix soared following Wednesday's market close, after it posted unexpectedly strong quarterly results and painted a promising picture of its near future. Here's why the company is doing so much better than Wall Street was expecting.
Post-Post-Christmas Bargains: The Best Deals This Weekend
Even with the holiday season receding in the rear-view mirror, there's still plenty of discounting taking place at big retailers. Here are a few of the better deals that you can take advantage of this weekend.
Netflix: No, We Won't Stream New Releases
Netflix is the undisputed champ when it comes to streaming video. But there's one thing its competitors will do that Netflix won't: stream new releases. Will that be the company's undoing?
Why Dish's Blockbuster Buy Might Not Have Been So Crazy After All
Dish Network was widely ridiculed for snapping up the Blockbuster video rental chain last year, but it may be getting the last laugh now. Dish has a chance to move into the cell phone business, and all those brick-and-mortar Blockbuster stores could give it a big boost.
We're Watching Less Network TV: Guess What We're Doing Instead
Fresh data from ratings tracker Nielsen shows an alarming drop in television viewership. ABC, Fox, CBS and NBC have combined for a 9 percent drop in viewers in the coveted 18-to-49 age bracket since the fall season began. Media executives are worried, and rightfully so.
Disney Strikes Out in the Online Video Streaming Business
Disney is shutting down Disney Movies Online. Visitors to the site are being told that the hub is closing at the end of the year. Disney Movies Online wasn't a bad idea, but it turns out, not even the House of Mouse is big enough to support a streaming venture that streams only its own videos.
Still Hate Your TV Company? You're Not Alone
As cable companies and satellite TV providers made their latest quarterly reports, one thing became clear: Americans are fed up with their bills for premium TV. The cable and satellite TV industries ended the period with 292,000 fewer customers than they started with.
Boxee TV: Walmart Wants You to See It; Your Cable Guy Doesn't
Starting Thursday, Boxee TV will be sold exclusively at 3,000 U.S. Walmart stores. The $98 device features a built-in antenna to grab free over-the-air broadcast TV, and it also tethers to the Internet to stream YouTube, Netflix, and Pandora. Is this a way for you to ditch your cable bill for good?
Wall Street Watch: Icahn Streams Into Netflix, Buys a 10% Stake
Carl Icahn is making a move on Netflix. The infamous activist investor and corporate raider has taken a nearly 10% stake in the DVD rental and video streaming giant, which means he must see a way to make a profit on its recent troubles. So does Icahn have a buyer in mind?
Netflix Earnings: Expect Those Disks to Keep on Skipping
Netflix shares were hammered on Wednesday after it posted weak domestic subscriber growth and dialed back its forecast. Many will argue that there's nothing wrong with where it is now, but there are real problems and real volatility driving the plot at the leading premium video service.
Amazon's Epix Deal Puts Netflix on Notice
In a single deal, Amazon has become a legitimate rival to Netflix. Its streaming deal with EPIX gives its Amazon Prime customers free access to 2,000 movies from Paramount Pictures, MGM, and Lionsgate -- films like Iron Man 2, Super 8, True Grit, Rango, and many others.
Wall Street Watch Friday: Zumiez Wipes Out
Skateboarding is all about keeping your balance and avoiding the always-embarrassing face-plant. But that's exactly what edgy teen apparel retailer Zumiez failed to do with Thursday afternoon's earnings report.
Netflix Goes Full Stream Ahead With a Scandinavian Invasion
Netflix has identified its next foreign market. The popular video service revealed on Wednesday morning that it will roll out its premium streaming platform through Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland later this year.
It's Breaking Bad for Dish: Satellite TV Provider Still Losing Viewers
Dish Network , the country's second-largest satellite TV provider, posted disappointing quarterly results on Wednesday, missing on both revenue and profit. And as its fight with AMC Networks drags on, there's probably worse news coming up next.
If the Best Portable TV Is an iPad, Then Google's Got Trouble
Forget what you've heard: Amazon and Apple aren't enemies. They're frenemies. Last week, the e-tailer officially made its Amazon Instant Video service available to tens of millions of iPad users. And that's a huge problem for Google.
Nice Earnings Report, Netflix: So Why Is Your Stock Taking a Dive?
Based on Netflix's quarterly report Tuesday, you'd expect investors to be happy: Revenue climbed nearly 13% to hit Wall Street's predictions, profits beat targets, and new streaming accounts were soaring. So how come the market gave a thumbs down to its stock?
Redbox Owner Coinstar to Start Vending Ventis with Starbuck's
Coinstar, with its ubiquitous kiosks that tally your change or rent DVDs, is now turning its attention to coffee. It will join with Seattle's Best (Starbucks' value-focused subsidiary) to roll out kiosks that crank out cups of java.
Netflix Owes $9 Million for Being Nosy for a Bit Too Long
One of the best things about Netflix? No late fees. But Netflix itself will shell out a $9 million late fee, for holding onto the customer records of its former subscribers for longer than the law allows.
Happy Birthday, YouTube! Now, Go Make Some Money
Google's fast-growing YouTube turned 7 on Monday. The world's most popular video-sharing website has come a long way already, but there are few things that can turn YouTube into a monster moneymaker for the world's most valuable Internet company.
Wall Street Tells Viacom: Turn Off the Nickelodeon Netflix Stream
Television may be evil, but it's not evil enough for Wall Street. Analysts are worried that ratings for Viacom's children's TV leader Nickelodeon are in danger over its friendly streaming video deal with Netflix.
Sirius Shows How to Play a Price Hike Without Getting the Blues
Sirius XM Radio raised its prices in January and totally got away with it. Last summer, Netflix tried it and got burned. So what did the satellite radio giant do smarter than the streaming video king?
Why Netflix Will Never Be Great Again
There were a few positives in Netflix's quarterly report Tuesday, but the stock fell 14% thanks in part to mixed results and uninspiring guidance. But the real reasons investors fled are more complex -- and disturbing.